Time-switch.



No. 632,|45. Patented Aug. 29, l899.`

- H. s. PRENTIss.

TIME SWITCH.

(Application med reb. 13, 1897.)

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No. 632,145. Patenteu Aug. 29, 1899.

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TIME SWITCH.

(Application med Feb. 13, 1897.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2,

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H. s. PRENTIss.

TIME SWITCH.

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ATTORNE UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIENRY S. PRENTISS, OF ELIZABETII, NElV JERSEY.

TIME-SWITCH.

SPECIFIATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 632,145, dated August 29, 1899.

Application file February 18, 1897. Serial No. 628,226. (No model.)

for the purpose of completely moving the lever through its range; seeondl'y, to prevent shnnting of the current through the timeswitch mechanism or any part thereof, and, thirdly, to insure positive action.

To this end my invention consists, essentially, in a time-switch embodying a usual switch-lever, a spring-pressed lever adapted to engage with said switch-lever, a latch for retaining said spring-pressed lever, and an electromagnet having its armatu re placed in connection with said latch for tripping the same to release the switch-operatin;` lever when the electromaguetis energized for causing the latter to operate the switch-lever.

The nature of my invention will best be understood when described in. connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents an elevation of a switchboard provided with my improved timeswitch. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevaton with part broken away, showing the switch-lever in its upper position. Fig. 4 is an elevation, on a smaller seale, of the entire apparatus. Fig. 5 is an elevation illustrating a modified form. Fig. G is a vertical section thereof. Fig. '7 is an elevation showing the switch-lever in its upper position.

Similar lctters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts th roughout the several views of the drawing's.

Referring at present to Fgs. 1. to -i of the drawing's, the letter B designates the base of the switchboard, made of slate or other suitable material, to which is secured a usual circuit-closer or switch S of any construction, containing a lever for making and breaking;1

the circnit. In the present instance I have illustrated a knife-switch embodyin.,r a lever L. The switch-Operating mechanism consists of a lever 1, adapted to engage with the handle 2 or other portion of the switch-lever L to turn the same from its upper or circuitclosing position, as shown in Fig. 3, to its lower or circuit-breaking` position, as shown in Fig. 1. Said lever is attached to a horizontal stud 3, mounted to turn in lugs formed on a suitable bracket O, secured to the base of the switchboard. Said stud is subjected to the action of a spiral spring 4, attached at one end to saidstud, and at its other end to the bracket O, or preferably to an adjusting-ring 5, so that its tension can be regulated. In the bracket O is mounted to slide vertically a latch D, formed with a lip 6, adapted to engage/with and hold the horizontal'portion 7 of the lever 1 when the latter is turned upwardly to the position shown in Fig. 8. The motion of said latch is limited by two stops 8 8. v On the bracket O is mounted an electromagnet E, having a gravtating armature 9 hinged to the bracket. The downward movement of the armature is limited by an adjustable stop 10, preferably made in the form of a screw, the head of which engages with said armaturc. The armature 9 is provided With an extension or arm 11,adapted to engage with the lowerend of the latch D.

To set the switch-operating` lever 1, it is turned upwardl y to the position shown in Fig. 3 and by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and pressed against the lip 6 of the latch D, the pressure springing` the latch upwardly to permit the passage of the lever, whereupon the latch falls by gravity to retain the lever in its upper position. The switch-lever is then turned upwardly to close the Circuit, its handle 2 being then in front of and preferably a short distance from the arm 7 of lever 1. Then the cireuit is closed through the electromagnet E, the latch is thrown upwardly by the blow of the extension or arm 11 andreleases the lever 1., which in view of the force exerted by the Spring -t turus the switch-lever L downwardly to break the Circuit, as shown in Figs. 1. and 2. To arrest the motion of the lever 1, a suitable stop or bul'fer 12 is provided. The lever 1 is also preferably provided with a suitable handle 13 of insulating material.

To operate the switch at a predetermined time, any suitable circuit-closer F-such, for instance, as that shown in Fig. 4; and operated by a suitable motor or clock-movement-may be used, the wires 15 and 16, leading from a battery Bii, being placed in connection with said circuit-closer and with the electromagnet E. A suitable circuit-closer, such as the push-button c, is interpolated in the wires 15 and 16 to enable the switch to be operated by hand.

It will be readily understood that the timeswitch can be placed on the switchboard in a position to have all metallic parts at a greater distance from the posts of the switchboard than the distance between said posts, and consequently there is absolutely no danger of the circuit being shunted.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 I have shown an armatnre -lever 11 placed above the cores of the electromagnet and arranged to swing about a pivot 1'7, it being slightly overbalanced by a weight 18. It is also provided with an iron block 20, arranged to one side of one of the cores and in close proximity to the same. The outer end of the armature-lever is adapted to engage with a pin 21 on the latch D for the purpose of tripping the switch-throwing lever when the armature-leveris attracted by the electromagnet. The purpose of this construction and arrangement for the armatnre-lever is to reduee the battery-power required for operating the switch. In the present example I have also shown an extra insulating-rin g 22, secured to the horizontal arm 7 of the lever l, which engages with the handle of the switchlever L, and I have also shown the handle 13 made of rubber.

I do not wish to restrict myself to the details of construction of the device for actuating the switch-lever, as it is evident that the same could be modified without departin g from the spirit of my invention. Neither do I wish to restrict myself to the use of the specific device for actuating electric switches, as it is evident that it can be used for operating cocks, valves, and burners and for kindred purposes.

That I claim as new is- 1. A time switch embodying` the usual switch-lever eoperating with contacts for making and breaking the circuit, a Springpressed lever adapted to engage with said lever for turning the same about its pivot to break the circuit, a latch adapted to engage with and to retain the said lever in its operative position, an electromagnet having its armatnre placed in connection with said latch for tripping the same to release the switch-Operating lever when the electromagnet is energized for the purpose of turning the switch-lever to break the circuit, and a circuit-eloscr in the circuit of the electromagnet, all substantiall y as and for the purpose speeified.

2. A time switch embodying the usual switch-lever coperating with contacts for making and breaking the circuit, a springpressed lever adapted to engage with said lever for turning the same about its pivot to break the circuit, a latch mounted to slide and adapted to engage with and to retain the said lever in its operative position, an electromagnet having its armatnre placed in connection with said latch for sliding the same to effect its disengagement from the switch- Operating lever when the electromagnet is energized for the purpose of causing the switchlever to be tnrned by the switch-Operating lever to break the circuit, and a circuit-Closer in the circuit of the electromagnet, substantially as described.

3. A time switch embodying the usual switch-lever coperating with contacts for making and breaking the circuit, a Springpressed lever adapted to engage with said lever for turning the same about its pivot to break the circuit and mounted to turn about a horizontal axis, a latch vertically disposed and adapted to engage with said springpressed lever to retain the same in its operative position, an electromagnet having its armatnre placed in connection with said latch for sliding the same to effect its disengagement from the switch-Operating lever when the electromagnet is energized for the purpose of causing the switch-lever to be tnrned by the switch-operatin g lever to break the circuit, and a cireuit-closer in the circuit of the electromagnet, substantially as described.

et. A time switch embodying the usual switch-lever coperating with contacts for making and breaking the circuit, a Springpressed lever adapted to engage with said lever for turning the same about its pivot to break the circuit, a latch adapted to engage with and to retain the said lever in its operative position, an electromagnet having its armatnre placed in connection with said latch for tripping the same to release the switch-Operating lever when the electromagnet is energized for the purpose of turning the switch-lever to break the circuit, a circuitcloser in the circuit of the electromagnet, means for actuating the circuit-closer to close the circuit at a predetermined time, and an independent source of electricity for the circuit of the circuit-Closer, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as myinvention I have signed my name, in presence of two witnesses, this ld day of February, 1897.

IIENRY S. PRENTISS.

Witnesses:

EUGENIE A. PERsIDEs, A. FABER DU FAUR, Jr.

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